Who Writes the Announcement
The newspaper announcement is traditionally written by the parents of the bride. A copy of the announcement should be offered to the groom’s parents if they live in another town so they can place the announcement in the local paper. The groom’s parents can provide the announcement if the bride’s parents are not available or the couple can announce the engagement themselves. All of these options are perfectly acceptable and couples should choose the way which makes them the most comfortable.Templates Might Be Available
The newspaper you choose might have templates available to guide you if the circulation is high enough. Most papers have a word limit and a price sheet available to couples before placing their announcement. One person usually handles the placement of these types of announcements and often there is a list of guidelines to make submission easier. Simply speaking with the person in charge of wedding and engagement announcements may be all the help you need.Information Included in a Newspaper Announcement
Most announcements follow an accepted outline. The parents of the bride and groom are usually included, regardless of who is placing the announcement. Information about any schools where the couple graduated and where they are currently employed is also traditionally listed. The date and location of the wedding can be added if those plans are in place. If not, the month of the planned wedding is sufficient.Examples of Engagement Announcement Wording
A traditional announcement might be worded as follows:Joe and Jane Smith, of Columbia, announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily, to John Doe. John is the son of David and Nancy Doe, of Daleville. Jane is a graduate of Johnson University and works for Community Medical Center. John is a graduate of Green College and works for Mavis Advertising. A June wedding is planned.An announcement by the couple can be worded in this format:
John Doe and Jane Smith announce their engagement. Jane is the daughter of David and Nancy Smith of Wood Dale, Ohio, and John is the son of Bill and Cindy Doe, of Pine Town, Idaho. Jane is a recent graduate of Stevens College and is employed with Mavis Systems Management. John is attending Stevens College in the College of Business Management. An August wedding in Wood Dale is planned.
Special Wording for Engagement Announcements
Situations involving divorced or deceased parents might require special wordings. Feelings can be easily hurt when trying to include parents who have remarried or whose divorce is still a cause of animosity. One way to handle these types of personal and specific issues is to check with an etiquette professional such as Emily Post or your wedding planner. Other options are to ask a friend or family member who faced a similar situation. Start scanning the local paper for examples and notices which could serve as a template for your announcement. Let your own sensitivity and good judgment be your guide and follow your heart for these tricky situations.Learning how to write a newspaper announcement may seem like a huge chore when you begin to research all the possible options available to a new couple. While it is true that your announcement will be read by friends and strangers alike, this important part of your wedding planning will also be a treasured part of your wedding album.
